We’re excited to announce a new grant partnership with GiGi’s Playhouse México, a Down syndrome achievement center doing truly extraordinary work in Querétaro, Mexico. GiGi’s Playhouse provides free educational, therapeutic, and support programs for babies, children, teens, and adults with Down syndrome. The organization’s goal is to change the way the world views Down syndrome and send a global message of acceptance for all.

That mission comes through from the very first interaction with a family. When a family contacts GiGi’s Playhouse after learning their child has Down syndrome and asks about accessing services, one of the first things they hear is: “Congratulations.” Starting with celebration sets the tone for the support families receive — welcoming their child, their family, and the possibilities ahead.

But the demand for these services is greater than GiGi’s Playhouse can currently accommodate. In Mexico, government support for children with Down syndrome is limited, and for many families, GiGi’s Playhouse may be their only access to specialized therapy and educational programs. Families are waiting for services like speech, literacy, and math, which can help children build communication, independence, and skills they can carry into school, work, and their communities.

The need for these services continues to grow. This cycle, GiGi’s Playhouse is serving 150 participants across its Literacy, Mathematics, and Language programs, which will be 20,700 hours of therapy in 2025.

The Project

This grant will fund therapy scholarships for 30 children, which will collectively provide an additional 1,200 therapy hours across math, literacy, and speech programs during 2025–2026. Most importantly, the scholarships will help GiGi’s Playhouse reduce its current waitlist by 50%, allowing more children to access the services they need.

By helping reduce the waitlist, this new partnership will give more families the opportunity to access consistent support during the years when these skills are being developed.

We’re proud to begin this partnership with GiGi’s Playhouse México and support their work to help more children develop the skills they need to communicate, become more independent, and participate more fully in their communities.